'Administration Reports 1925-1930' [‎171v] (347/418)

6
SECTION VI.
Political Situation.
Government measures, —In the beginning of the year, Mirza Muhammad Khan
Ghazanfar-us-Snltaneh of Borazjan rose in open rebellion against the Government
Troops as a result of the Disarming Campaign which has been commenced in Dashti
and Dashtistan in November. He robbed caravans and flocks of sheep giving
receipts for what he took and his gang increased in numbers-daily. Encouraged by
this rising and the defeats which the Government Troops received at the hands of
Mehdi Surkhe and his following about Firoozabad, a few of the Khans of Dashti
followed in the footsteps of Ghazanfar-us-Sultaneh. This state of affaiis threatened
a general rising of the tribes and even a recurrence of the Qashqai revolt. The
tact of His Excellency Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Intisar however saved the situation. At his
instance, it is said, Shaikh Abdur Rasul Khan, son of Shaikh Hussain Khan of
Chahkutah, shot down Ghazanfar-us-Sultaneh and his following were, some killed
and the rest dispersed. The Dashtis then also received a defeat after some brief
fighting and gave up their arms. Shaikh Abdur Rasul Khan and Haji Ali of
Chahpir were given medals for the assistance they rendered in the disarming of the
tribes.
Conscription, disarmament, the new dress regulations and the increased land
revenue (which has been raised by 60%), continue to keep the peasantry and tribes
discontented. The mercantile classes and traders are also disaffected as they are
almost completely prevented by the Foreign Exchange Law from importing goods
from abroad and are harassed by increased customs duties.
By the end of March the Dashti and Dashtistan and Mehdi Surkhe's trouble
had all been brought to an end and peace restored. The resumption of operatioi^s .
against the Mamasani and Kuhgilaviah tribes which commenced in the middle of
the year proved that the Government were resolved to enforce conscription, dis-
armamemt and New Dress Regulations all over the country. The defeat of these
tribes, especially of the Kuhgilaviah tribes, proved the supremacy of the Govern
ment.
The Nadiri Regiment having finished the Disarming Campaign in Dashti and
Dashtistan came and camped 4 miles from Bushire. It marched past the town and
was received by the populace with shouts of " Long live the Shah ". No com
plaint was made of any misbehaviour on the part of the troops.
The elections for the eighth Constitutional era were effected according to the
orders of the Government and their nominees elected namely Shaikh Ali Dashti,
Editor of Shafq-i-Surkh, and Haji Muhammad Reza Behbahani, Bushire. Criticis
ing the Shah the general public consider him a usurper of the people's constitutional
rights. '
SECTION VII.
Slavery.
During the period under review the following slaves were manumitted by order
of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. :
Henjam .. .. .. .. 8
Shergah .. .. .. .. 12
, <'
SECTION VIII.
Trade and Trade Facilities.
Trade. —The year 1930 must surely be considered one of the worst that British
trade in Persia has ever experienced,
It opened with the continuation and accentuation of the fall in the Kran
Sterling rate due to the fall in the price of silver, itself a sufficiently disturbing
factor, which would doubtless have led to a very considerable reduction in business,
even if the Persian Government had not taken upon itself at the end of February
to introduce hasty and ill-conceived measures for the control of the exchange rate,
which precipitated and accentuated the crisis.